Windsor man pushes for Molly Matters signatures right to deadline

Jeff Durham has been overwhelmed with the support he's received during his lengthy public campaign to include additional punishments for anyone who harms an unborn baby during attacks on pregnant mothers.

More than 6,000 people from across Canada have signed his online petition to change the country's laws.

• Windsor man continues push to make it a crime to harm unborn child
• Matthew Brush to stand trial for 1st degree murder of Cassandra Kaake

With the deadline to sign the petition Wednesday afternoon, Durham estimates he has a similar number of people who have signed paper petitions.

He launched his campaign after the death of his former girlfriend, Cassandra Kaake, who was seven months pregnant when her body was found in her burned out home.

Matthew Brush has been charged with murder in connection withKaake's death, but Durham and his supporters sayCanadian laws should go further to hold people responsible for harming an unborn child.

"People from all over Canada have supported our petition, have supported our cause," he said. "This isn't the first time this has come into question and it won't be the last, if it's not addressed."

The petition will be presented to the House of Commons.

Saskatchewan Conservative MP Cathay Wagantall introduced aprivate member's bill, known as Cassie and Molly's Law, in February. It calls for similar changes to theCriminal Code.

Wagantall said the latest petition is significant because "it gives us an opportunity to get a real sense in real time why this particular topic is important."

The Minister of Justice is required to respond to the petition, Wagantall said.

The minister wasn't available for comment.

"Canadians are calling on us to respect the fact there is a life that is being anticipated to be part of the family," Wagantall said.

Wagantall's tabled legislation, if passed, would "make it a separate offence to cause injury or death to a pre-born child during the commission of an offence against the child's mother."

Second hour of debate happens Oct. 5. The next goal for Wagantall is to send it to committee.